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Jailed witness reveals Duterte plotted to oust Philippines’ Marcos

Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte discussed removing President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr from office and even considered assassination if a supposed power-sharing deal fell apart, a…

By Samantha Johnson / April 15, 2026

Ramil Madriaga, a self-described political organiser, intelligence operative and bagman who said he had once been close to Duterte-Carpio, made the sensational allegations before the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday during its clarificatory hearings on the impeachment complaints against the vice-president.

Duterte-Carpio faces four impeachment complaints accusing her of corruption, misconduct, political destabilisation and abuse of power.

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Madriaga appeared at the hearing in handcuffs, wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet and escorted by armed guards from the high-security prison where he is being held while on trial for kidnapping.

The vice-president has denied knowing Madriaga, while her lawyers and political allies have tried to stop him from appearing before Congress, filing unsuccessful motions before the Supreme Court and a regional trial court.

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In March, Duterte-Carpio herself filed a perjury complaint against him, saying he had lied about being close to her.

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